Image: Richard Bloom
Real estate investor, LandsecU+I is collaborating with the TRUUD research programme to improve the way investors can take health evidence into account when creating new urban developments.
Based at the University of Bristol, and with researchers across six different universities, TRUUD (Tackling the Root causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development) is a £10 million research consortium, looking at how urban places can be planned and developed to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illness.
LandsecU+I is working with TRUUD’s real estate intervention team at the University of Reading to test a new model that can provide investors with a better understanding of the health and societal cost and benefit implications of developments in their asset portfolio. The Health Appraisal of Urban Systems Model (HAUS) developed by Dr Eleanor Eaton at the University of Bath is being tested at Mayfield Park, Manchester.
The real estate investment research is led by Professor Kathy Pain at the University of Reading. She said:
“Our research tells us that urban investors want to act on health but there is a lack of meaningful data to inform early appraisal and asset management decisions.
“Our collaboration with LandsecU+I will demonstrate how the Mayfield Park scheme is benefiting the long-term health of local communities. We’re delighted to be working with LandsecU+I for its expertise and creative approach to health.
“The real estate research intervention could herald a change in real estate industry practices, planning negotiations and reporting to investors.”
Laura Percy, Senior Development Director at LandsecU+I in Manchester said: “We are delighted to take part in this pioneering research project. Mayfield Park is a trail-blazing urban green space which has won multiple honours since opening just over two years ago, including a prestigious Green Flag award this year.
“Already, a smoke-free park, it is having a transformational impact on the local area and on people’s health, including our young visitors enjoying the slides and climbing frames in the Play Yard, the runners, dog walkers and casual lunch-time strollers enjoying the peace and tranquillity of being close to nature.
“We see Mayfield Park as an exemplar and hope through this project it can shape a greener and healthier future for other towns and cities.”
Dr Eleanor Eaton at the University of Bath is leading the testing and future development of the HAUS model. She said:
“This is a really interesting case study for us to test our research. The sheer scale of the ambition for Mayfield allows us to explore how we can provide data to help understand how this area might impact on the wellbeing of people living nearby.”
The collaboration builds on findings from 21 in-depth real estate interviews and wide consultation with senior UK-based real estate professionals. This has revealed that there is strong investor pressure for socially responsible investment and development but although urban health and wellbeing has become a commercial priority there is a current lack of robust health and wellbeing data and a need for more co-ordination between public and private sector decision-making.
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Notes for Editors
About TRUUD
Based at the University of Bristol, and with researchers across six different universities, TRUUD (Tackling the Root causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development) is a £10 million research project, looking at how urban places can be planned to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illness.
TRUUD is supported by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP), an initiative funded by UK Research and Innovation Councils, the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK devolved administrations, and leading health research charities.
About LandsecU+I
LandsecU+I, is a specialist mixed-use regeneration developer and part of Landsec. Its purpose is to improve people’s lives, in the places it builds, in the positive impact it has on communities, in everything it does. Asking the right questions about people, place and planet, LandsecU+I imagines, designs, builds, co-creates and operates sustainable urban places that work for communities today and evolve and adapt for tomorrow.
www.landsec-uandi.com
About Mayfield Park
The 6.5 acre Mayfield Park is part of a major urban development of a 24-acre brownfield site in Manchester City Centre. Once complete, this new urban quarter will deliver 13-acres of public realm and bring 1,500 new homes, extensive office space (1.6m square ft), 200,000 square ft of retail space, a mobility hub and a 650-key hotel to Manchester
